that I did not stay at home and listen to Brian Lehrer's call in assessment of last night's Mayoral debate. With my own strong feelings about it---it would be interesting to see how others reacted. I thought Albanese, with his bull dog approach, came on strong---does he have a chance? Well, even a strong showing by him, even if he loses would be a reminder to the Mayor that he has lost a lot of his 2013 constituency---those of us who really believed that he could make change.Yes, some of his progressive policies have been helpful--certainly one can't fault his lowering of the rent stabilization rates for the past few years. But what has he done for tenants who are not rent stabilized? Nothing. It will be interesting to see where this goes---there is one more debate on (I believe) September 6.
Now a few words about "apathy". I think I am the only person I know who was aware of the debate. Even the tenants union in Crown Heights was not going to let it interrupt its meeting. Strange and very sad. The Mayor has so much power of the way we live. But---if you have enough money to make it through the next four years, why should the needs off people living on the Jerome Avenue corridor in the Bronx be important to you? Huh? Jerome Avenue, where this all began? Well, let's see how this plays.
Yesterday afternoon---a different afternoon for cityboy. First went to Greenpoint to search for a suit for my niece's Natalie's wedding. The one store that I tried, really did not sell suits, but of course, since I was in Brooklyn, could not simply get back on the subway. I browsed through the bookstore on Frankin Avenue, called Words---it is a calm, quiet place on a very quiet spot in Greenpoint. Saw many books that I would have liked to read--for a moment I wished that that was all my life was--to buy a book in Greenpoint, and absorb myself in it, and nothing else. Yes, placid, but intense. But of course, it was not to be, I had to leave and explore Orchard street for a suit-so I took the G to Broadway (and Union) then switched to the J to Delancey and walked south on Orchard Street. Wow! What a transformation, even in the past few years. Orchard, between Delancey and Broome, is loaded with restaurants, a few coffee places etc. After some searching, I came upon a small store which sold suits. A cluttered place, but the proprietors, a husband and wife were extremely nice, and lo and behold, I bought a suit for a very low price. I must "yelp" the place---it really deserves a good review. Then home, the debate (on WNYC) and finally, hummus at the Dive Bar (the only reasonable bar in the neighborhood for hummus) where I watched some of the baseball games of the evening. My stay at the bar was uneventful---no interesting discussions---since the bar is one block away from Symphony Space, where the debate was held, I thought I might find someone who was there, but it was not to be. Returned home and went to sleep.
Today, no specific plans, but might visit Starr Bar in Bushwick to confirm the afterparty after the BAN march. Also, syndicated has Rushmore at 6--a movie I always wanted to see. After that...? Well, will report tomorrow.
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